Kohima, May 10 (MExN): Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Tokheho Yepthomi and Naga Peoples Front (NPF), C. Apok Jamir today filed their nominations for bye-election to lone Lok Sabha seat from Nagaland state.
The nominations were filed at Commissioner’s office, Kohima on May 10, the last day for filing nominations. The poll is scheduled to be held on May 28.
While Tokheho is the consensus candidate for the ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA), Jamir is the main opposition candidate.
The Commissioner, Nagaland & RO for bye-election, Motsuthung Patton, IAS assisted by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Hq) & ARO, Limanenla examined the necessary documents furnished by the candidates while the General Observer, Dr. J. Ravi Shankar, IAS who has been deployed to the Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency for the bye-election observed the filing proceedings.
The lone seat to Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after the incumbent MP Neiphiu Rio resigned on February 17 to contest the assembly election. He won the Northern Angami-II seat and was elected the chief minister of the state.
Yepthomi was accompanied by state BJP president Visasolie Lhoungu and NDPP Minister C M Chang when he filed his papers while Jamir’s name, was proposed by NPF spokesperson Achumbemo Kikon. Senior legislators and party functionaries, along with NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu, escorted Jamir to Pattons office, PTI news agency reported.
The scrutiny of the documents would be conducted tomorrow and the last date of withdrawal of candidature is May 14.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio yesterday announced that NDPP-led PDA would be launching a campaign for the bypoll from Dimapur district on May 16. NPF president Liezietsu, however, said they would kick-start their campaign as soon as the scrutiny of the nomination papers is over.
Meanwhile, the Nagaland Congress said that it has shelved the plan to contest the election.
“…Let two regional parties NDPP and NPF fight out. Bigger picture awaits in 2019 and will go full throttle towards the objective of reclaiming Nagaland,” the General Secretary of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, GK Zhimomi tweeted on May 10.
